14
www.philtimes.com.au the philippine times JANUARY 2016
Outgoing Australian Ambassador
honoured by Philippine government
M a n il a — P r e sid e n t
Benigno S. Aquino III has
conferred the Order of
Sikatuna with the rank
of Datu Katangiang Ginto
(Grand Cross, Gold Distinction) on outgoing Australian Ambassador Bill
Tweddell.
The Secretary of Foreign
Affairs Albert del Rosario
presented the award to
Ambassador Tweddell on
5 January 2016 as a tribute
to Australia’s long legacy of
cooperation and friendship
with the Philippines. The
Philippines and Australia
are marking 70 years of
bilateral relations in 2016.
The award was also in
recognition of four years
of dedicated service to developing the bilateral relationship, and contributing
to the overall development
of the Philippines.
Ambassador Tweddell
led the humanitarian response to Typhoon Haiyan
where Australia contrib-
uted a total of $100 million
in aid and defence assets.
Ambassador Tweddell has
also promoted the peace
process, stronger defence
relationships capped by
the signing of the Status of
Visiting Forces Agreement,
supported trade expansion and liberalisation,
cooperation in law enforcement, border protection
and counter-terrorism, and
maintenance of a close,
balanced and responsive
development partnership.
In the sidelines of the
Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic
Leaders’ Meeting, President
Aquino and Australian
Prime Minister Malcolm
Turnbull signed a Joint
Declaration on PhilippinesAustralia Comprehensive
Partnership.
“I am very honoured to
receive this award from
the Philippine Government
and most grateful to His
Excellency, the President.
Four productive years as
ambassador to the Philippines, during which our bilateral ties and cooperation
on regional issues has gone
from strength to strength,
has been an excellent final
chapter of a 40-year career
in Australia’s diplomatic
service,” said Ambassador
Tweddell.
Ambassador Tweddell is
a senior career officer with
the Australian Department
of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
Ambassador Tweddell has
served as Australian Ambassador to Vietnam; ConsulGeneral, Hong Kong; High
Commissioner, Sri Lanka;
Deputy High Commissioner
to the United Kingdom, and
Deputy High Commissioner
to India; with earlier postings to Greece and Bangladesh. He was also Chief of
Staff to the former Minister
for Foreign Affairs, Alexander Downer. He will be
retiring from public service
in February after 40 years of
distinguished service.
Ambassador Tweddell
has been elected as Chancellor of his alma mater,
James Cook University,
and will take up the post
in March.
The Ambassador was accompanied to the ceremony
by his wife, Chris Tweddell, and by senior Australian Embassy officials.
The Order of Sikatuna
was established in 1953
and is conferred by the
President of the Philippines to give recognition
to individuals who have
rendered exceptional and
meritorious service to the
Philippines, and to diplomats, officials and nationals of foreign states who
have rendered outstanding
service in fostering, developing, and strengthening
relations between their
country and the Philippines.
(Source: Australian Embassy, Manila)
Philippine Secretary of Foreign Affairs Albert del Rosario
(left) confers the Order of Sikatuna on Australian
Ambassador Bill Twedell.
may be collected from the
Embassy either personally or
through an authorised representative. The updated list
is on the Embassy website
– www.philembassy.org.au
in the Philippines may be deposited to the bank account
of the Department of Social
Welfare and Development
(DSWD) with the following
details:
0055-81
Swift Code:
TLBPPHMMXXX
Bank Address: LBP-Batasan
Branch Constitution Hills,
Quezon City
Bank account details of
DSWD
Dollar Savings Account for
Foreign Donation:
Account Name: DSWD
FOREIGN DONATION
Account Number: 3124-
Peso Current Account for
Local Donation:
Account Name: DSWD
DONATION FUND
Account Number: 3122-
Consular Bulletin
Continued from page 4
The Philippine Embassy advises all Philippine passport
holders:
• whose passports are
expiring within the
next six months, to
renew their passports
if they intend to travel
within the aforementioned period.
•
to secure their new
passports prior to
booking their flights.
Updated list of available
Voter IDs
The Philippine Embassy in
Canberra has updated its list
of available voter IDs for registered voters who filed their
applications for registration
from 2009 to 2012. These IDs
The Embassy has advised
that cash donations for the
victims of various disasters
1011-84
Bank Address: LBP-Batasan
Branch Constitution Hills,
Quezon City
Your kind assistance and
cooperation to support our
kababayans who have been
affected by these disasters
are much appreciated.
Thank you.
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